Sunday, August 30, 2015

Five Tips for New (and Not so New) Teachers

Hey y'all! How is the beginning of your school year going?
Whether you've been back with kiddos for weeks or your year is about to start,
I'm sure you can relate to this:

Doesn't she seem too perky to be tired?

Can you feel me?

One thing that makes this particular beginning of the
year so exhausting is I'm new to my district and everything (I mean
every. single. thing.) is different than my last school. It doesn't matter of
it's your first year teaching or if you're new to your district or school,
being the new kid on the block can be stressful. Unless, of course, you're Joey McIntyre or Donnie Wahlberg. Since none of us are members of NKOTB, I thought Id share my five tips to help
you transition to your new environment.

Tip 1: Get to Know the Who's Who of Your School

You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

You've probably heard this before, but there is a select
group of men and women in your school that you need to get to know:

1. Custodians - Think about it: They clean up after you and
your students. They readjust the legs of your desks and chairs so you don't go
into OCD meltdown when you look at your classroom. They deliver your heavy
packages from the front office. These wonderful people make your life easier in
one way or another every single day. Be kind to them. Remember them on holidays
and staff appreciation days. Thank them for working hard. They don't have an
easy job. (Would you want to be the person to clean up after the dreaded stomach flu
breaks out in your classroom?)

2. Secretaries and the Front Office Staff - These knowledgeable people know the ins and outs of your school and should be treated with the
utmost respect and reverence. As a not-so-new new teacher, I can't tell you how
many times a day I have to ask them for something, whether it be where forms
are located, how to schedule an absence, or where the copy paper (equivalent to gold in my school) is located. Without their help, I probably wouldn't have survived my first week. Be nice to them. They know where the bodies
are buried!

3. School Nurse - Forge a relationship with the person in
your clinic. Not only will you be sending your students there when they need help,
I guarantee you will probably visit it at least once yourself during your
career. The school nurse at my former school was nice enough to dig
through my hair when we had a lice breakout, and I completely freaked with
paranoia. She probably would have given me a major case of side-eye if it was the first time I ever had a conversation with her.

Tip 2: Be Friendly

Be friendly. (just not too friendly)

Like any job, there are going to be people that annoy you or
that you just don't see yourself having a relationship with outside of school.
That's okay. Still, be friendly to everyone. You never know who will have the position above yours in five years.

Tip 3: Make Friends

Come sit by me!

I know you're probably thinking to yourself, "Didn't
this chick already tell me to be friendly?" Yes, you should be friendly to
everyone but also make friends with the people who will build you up and make
you a better teacher/version of yourself. Some of the closest friends I have
are my former coworkers. They've laughed and cried with me. Even though we are no longer in the same school, I know I can call or text them any
time I need them and they'll be there.

Tip 4: Fake It 'Til You Make It

Faking it like a boss.

I love this saying! There is no way to know what is going to
happen every second of the day. When in doubt, act positive and confident. Eventually, you'll start to feel more positive and confident. These are words to live by, but...

Tip 5: Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help

This is what I look like when I write lesson plans.

If you're anything like me, you want to keep up appearances
that you know what is going on, what to do, and how to do it. Your
principal/district/hiring team hired you for a reason, and you don't want them
to think they made a bad decision. Still, one of the best things you can do is
to admit when you need help. We teach our students that they shouldn't be
embarrassed to come to us when they need help. Shouldn't we practice what we
preach?

I hope these tips help you as you maneuver through the
beginning of your school year. Good luck, my friends!